Chapter 36: The Surgery Was a Success

The anesthesiologist was the first to take action.

He began the induction of anesthesia. At the same time, Fang Zhiyan used the tumor size indicated by the myelogram to confirm the surgical incision and the number of laminectomies required. Once the anesthesia was complete, Fang commenced the laminectomy.

Under the binocular microscope, the surgical field was fully exposed after the removal of the vertebral lamina. Fang Zhiyan could clearly see that the epidural fat near the fourth and sixth cervical vertebrae had completely vanished, leaving only a spindle-shaped, swollen mass. This was the tumor itself.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Fang quickly picked up the microsurgical suturing instruments and placed several stitches on both sides of the dura mater to serve as traction lines. Immediately after, he made an incision along the midline of the tumor. Every movement was fluid and natural, perfect to the point of being absurd.

He Dongfang and Shao Gang exchanged glances, staring at Fang’s movements with utter astonishment.

Steady.

It was impossibly steady. Fang Zhiyan’s hands did not waver in the slightest. Whether he was removing the hard vertebral lamina or performing the suturing, his movements were as firm as a rock, as if he were a chief of neurosurgery with decades of experience.

It was simply incredible. Was this right? Should it be like this? Shao Gang could not speak; he could only fix his gaze on Fang’s actions.

Fang Zhiyan reached in with steady precision, made a small incision around the tumor, inserted a micro-dissector to probe, and then opened the dura mater. Following this, he performed a midline incision on the dorsal side of the spinal cord, separating the posterior columns.

Then, everyone saw the intact tumor. Its surface was covered in thin, fragile blood vessels that pulsed rhythmically with the patient’s heartbeat.

Everyone was stunned. It was simply inconceivable. Fang Zhiyan had judged the depth with such precision, incising the outer spinal membrane without damaging the tumor within. Such terrifying control was beyond anyone’s reach. Every ounce of force was manipulated with finesse; he avoided the fragile tissues and utilized the suction device with exquisite skill.

More importantly, Fang Zhiyan’s surgical technique was inimitable. It was a high-stakes approach that demanded an extraordinary level of skill from the surgeon. The slightest error would have caused the scalpel to pierce the tumor, damage the spinal cord, and lead to surgical failure—with catastrophic consequences.

The onlookers sighed in their hearts, yet they dared not blink, terrified of missing a single step of Fang’s operation. Zhu Zixiao, Yin Jing, and others had also managed to secure a spot to observe, but as they stood by, their expressions were bitter.

Is this right? Is this normal? Is this an intern from the same batch—no, a late arrival compared to them? Is Fang Zhiyan really just an intern? Impossible, how could it be? He must be lying. He must be a chief physician who looks young and is merely posing as an intern! Zhu Zixiao’s mind was in turmoil; he couldn't even process his own thoughts. To him, this surgery felt like a dream—no, something even more exaggerated than a dream.

Time ticked away. Everyone stared at the screen with bated breath. Ependymomas are extremely fragile; the slightest mistake during separation would cause them to rupture. Coupled with the fact that the tumor was connected to the spinal cord, the difficulty was self-evident.

"Preparing for excision," Fang Zhiyan said at that moment.

Everyone’s hearts tightened. The surgery had reached its most critical phase. In Fang’s mind, the position of the spinal cord, the extent of the tumor, and the connections between them were mapped out clearly. His hands moved bit by bit, slow yet unwavering.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Fang finally let out a soft breath. He slowly set down the micro-instruments, and in his other hand, he held the completely excised tumor. He dropped it into the tray and said calmly, "Excision successful."

As his words fell, everyone in the operating room looked up. They looked at the tumor in the tray, then back at Fang, their eyes gleaming with a feverish intensity. Shao Gang, in particular, was completely numb. He had stood right there, witnessing the entire process from start to finish, and he knew that even he would have been incapable of performing such a surgery. Yet, Fang Zhiyan had succeeded.

He had completed the surgery with a perfection that bordered on the monstrous. It was terrifying. It was genius. It was monstrous.

Yao Gang took a deep breath and looked at Fang seriously. "Xiao Fang, is it? There’s no future in Emergency Medicine. Come with me to Neurosurgery. We—"

"Shut up!" Before he could finish, He Dongfang interrupted, panicked. Was he trying to poach talent right in front of his face? He wouldn’t let that happen. "Yao, don’t push it. Zhiyan is from our department; don’t even think about taking him away. Zhiyan, stay here with peace of mind; I won’t treat you poorly. You’re the one I recruited; I know you best, right?"

He Dongfang was truly scared. This kid’s talent and ability were simply terrifying. If Yao Gang managed to poach him, it would be a massive loss for the Emergency Department. He had to ensure no other department could entice him.

Fang Zhiyan offered a helpless, bitter smile. He didn't speak, focusing instead on finishing the final steps of the surgery. Only when the entire procedure was completely concluded did he finally exhale a long breath.

"Send the patient to the Intensive Care Unit."

Stepping off the operating table, Fang felt a wave of exhaustion. The entire surgery had lasted four hours; anyone else would have struggled to endure it, let alone perform it with such perfection.

The lights in the operating room dimmed. Zhang Xiulian, who had been waiting outside, stood up in a flash, looking toward the door with hopeful eyes. When the door finally opened and Fang Zhiyan stepped out, she rushed forward and grabbed his hand tightly. Her voice and body were trembling. The fear in her heart had been overwhelming; she hadn't dared to imagine what she would do if the surgery failed.

Fortunately, Fang gave her a smile. "Auntie Zhang, the surgery was very successful. We need to move him to the ICU now. As long as he makes it through the critical seventy-two hours post-operation, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Good, good, that’s wonderful." Zhang Xiulian wept with joy. She never imagined the surgery would be this successful. "Thank you, Zhiyan, thank you so much. Without you, I wouldn't have known what to do."

She burst into tears, her body collapsing to the floor in sheer, exhausted relief.